Traffic from the Haasman Research Institute has caused congested roads along Colonial Park Drive and parts of Wayside Road.
At its Jan. 18 meeting, Berlin Borough Council passed an ordinance on first reading to restrict parking along Colonial Park Drive and parts of Wayside Road. The parking would be confined to permit-only privileges for nearby residents. The order will go into effect if the ordinance is adopted on second reading at the Feb. 8 meeting.
The issue is specifically unfolding in Centennial Square on Colonial Park Drive, including sections of Wayside Road, near the Farmer’s Market and Haasman Research Institute.
The permits would be strictly used by the homeowners, including their potential houseguests, residing in that area. As of now, permits will be implemented on the institute’s side of the street, but, depending upon its effectiveness, more signs could be installed.
Motorists who are visiting the Hassman Research Institute and other neighboring offices should be parking in the institute’s designated lots, but instead, continue to park in Centennial Square, according to Councilman Dan MacDonnell, chairman of streets and roads.
MacDonnell expressed his concerns to council that the congested roadway causes a fire hazard.
“One of the big issues that certainly concerns me is that when there’s cars parked on both sides of Wayside, I think it would be hard for us to get a fire truck down that street,” MacDonnell said.
MacDonnell said representatives of Haasman attended a recent planning board meeting seeking approval for improvements to their property. In gaining that endorsement, the institute had to abide by certain terms and conditions, including prohibited parking on Wayside or Colonial Park.
At the meeting, Mayor Jim Bilella said he’s been in contact with the chief operating officer of Haasman, stressing to the institute the current parking circumstances.
“(Haasman is) very apologetic about the problems they’re having, and they do agree that part of the planning board approval (was) to limit their parking, so they’re aware that they’re not being good neighbors and they’re working on that,” Bilella said.
In a conversation with The Sun following the Council meeting, representatives of Haasman said they, too, are working to alleviate the issue.
“Our employees will no longer park on that street,” said Steve Kennedy, chief operating officer of the research institute. “We now all park in the parking lot or offsite facility. No longer will they park on Centennial.”
According to the MacDonnell, there were photos circulating around Facebook revealing cars being detailed along those streets.
“I don’t mind people doing that in front of their own home,” MacDonnell said. “But when you’re doing it at an entrance to a neighborhood, and you’re probably an employee who should be parking, you’re not someone who’s just going to the doctor’s office … I think we just need to provide some relief to the homeowners there.”
Bill Bansch, the borough’s part-time code enforcement officer, says a letter was sent to the mobile detailing company that it is prohibited from working on cars along any municipal street within the borough.
“Hopefully we can resolve some of the issues of the parking,” he said.
Bilella says to contact the borough code enforcement office regarding any issues.
Members of the public also voiced concerns at the meeting.
“(Parking permits) would make a big difference for everybody who lives there for safety reasons and a lot of other reasons,” said Morey Myers, a resident of Centennial Square who lives on Hillcroft Road. “Hopefully, we can get this resolved.”
Bansch can be reached at propertymaintenance@berlinnj.org or (856) 767–7777 ext. 315.
